US4949113A - Top cover mounting construction for cameras - Google Patents

Top cover mounting construction for cameras Download PDF

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Publication number
US4949113A
US4949113A US07/350,907 US35090789A US4949113A US 4949113 A US4949113 A US 4949113A US 35090789 A US35090789 A US 35090789A US 4949113 A US4949113 A US 4949113A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
rearward
camera body
top cover
rear lid
camera
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US07/350,907
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English (en)
Inventor
Junichi Tanii
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Minolta Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Minolta Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minolta Co Ltd filed Critical Minolta Co Ltd
Assigned to MINOLTA CAMERA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, A CORP. OF JAPAN reassignment MINOLTA CAMERA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, A CORP. OF JAPAN ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: TANII, JUNICHI
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Publication of US4949113A publication Critical patent/US4949113A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/02—Bodies

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a top cover mounting construction for cameras.
  • screws have been mainly resorted to as fastening means in the field of cameras for detachably attaching a top cover to a camera body.
  • the screws which are employed as fastening means create a problem, however, when they are applied to the outer side of a top cover to fasten the same to a camera body.
  • the appearance of the camera is impaired by the existance screw heads on the outer surfaces of the top cover.
  • it has been the general practice (1) to bond concealing lids on screw heads set in sunken positions, (2) to bond the top cover to a camera body by the use of an adhesive, or (3) to provide hook portions on the top cover to thereby hold it fixedly in position on a camera body.
  • the above-mentioned construction (1) additionally requires concealing lids which make the outer shape of a camera larger and take time for the removal of the lids; the construction (2) is insufficient in the degree of achieved and makes detachment of the top cover difficult due to the use of an adhesive; and the construction (3) is susceptible to loosening of the cover and often requires forceable wrenching of the top cover at the time of attachment and detachment.
  • FIG. 4 Shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the conventional top cover mounting construction which uses screws to fix the top cover on a camera body and, specifically, in which the top cover is fixed by screws at a right end portion near a right-hand grip portion.
  • indicated at 1 is a top cover of a camera
  • at 2 is a front grip portion to be gripped by an operator by his right-hand fingers except his thumb
  • at 3 is a suspender ring to which a strap of the camera is to be connected
  • at 4 and 5 are set screws which are tightened into the camera body from the upper and lateral sides of the top cover 1, respectively.
  • the set screws 4 and 5 concurrently, one of these screws is used for this part of the top cover, other parts of the top cover being fixed by known fixing means.
  • a top cover mounting construction for a camera having a rearwardly bulged retaining portion formed in an upper portion of a rear lid of the camera on the side of a grip, a bulged retaining portion formed in the top cover of the camera contiguously to the bulged retaining portion of the rear lid, and a set screw applied to the bottom surface of the bulged retaining portion of the top cover through a camera body portion to fix the top cover in position on the camera body.
  • the top cover on the camera body by applying a set screw into the bottom surface of the bulged retaining portion of the top cover through a camera body portion.
  • the applied set screw is completely concealed in the bulged retaining portion of the rear lid, so it cannot be viewed from outside but can be screwed on or off extremely easily.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a camera incorporating the top cover mounting construction of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the camera of FIG. 1 as seen from the side of a right-hand grip;
  • FIG. 3 is a partly cutaway side view of the camera including a set screw according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the conventional location of a set screw on the top cover.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a camera employing the top cover mounting construction according to the invention, which includes a top 1, a front grip 2 on which an operator's right-hand fingers except the thumb are positioned, a suspender rings for connecting a strap, a set screw 6 at a bottom cover 7, and a rear lid 8.
  • the upper portion of the rear lid 8 is bulged out rearwardly as indicated at 8a, while a top cover portion which is located above the rearward bulge 8a of the rear lid 8 is similarly bulged out as indicated at 1a to form a general contour continuous from said rearward bulge of the top cover.
  • the rearward bulge 8a of the rear lid is tapered downwardly such that the degree of bulging diminishes to zero where the lower end meets the bottom cover 7 (FIG. 2).
  • the bottom side of the rearward bulge 1a of the top cover 1 is accessible and viewable from its underside when the rear lid 8 is opened or removed.
  • the set screw cannot be seen from outside of the camera.
  • FIG. 3 more particularly shows the construction where the top cover 1 is secured to the rearward extension 9' of the camera body 9 by the set screw 6 screwed into the rearward bulge 1a.
  • Said body 9 is integrally formed with the rearward extension 9' though the latter may be replaced with a separate member.
  • Indicated at 8b and 8c are light shielding walls which engage in complementary light shielding grooves 9b and 9c, respectively, on the camera body 9 to form light shielding portions together with the latter.
  • Denoted at 9d is a recess which is formed in the rearward extension 9' of the camera body 9 to receive the head portion of the set screw 6, thereby keeping the head portion out of interference with the light shielding wall 8b when the rear lid 8 is opened and closed.
  • Designated at 9e is a screw insert aperture formed in said rearward extension 9' of the camera body 9 for receiving the set screw 6 to be screwed into a threaded hole 1c of the rearward bulge 1a.
  • At 1b is a pendent wall portion formed at the bulged rear end of the top cover 1
  • at 7a is a riser wall portion formed at the end of the bottom cover 7.
  • the top cover 1 is attached to the camera body 9 by screwing the set screw 6 into the bottom wall of the rearward bulge 1a through the screw insert aperture 9e in the rearward extension 9'.
  • the rearward extension 9' is located under the rearward bulge 1a of the top cover 1 and above the light shielding wall 8b on the upper side of the rearward bulge portion 8a of the rear lid 8.
  • the head portion of the set screw 6 is positioned within the recess 9d on the camera body and is therefore kept from interference with the light shielding wall 8b of the rear lid 8.
  • the set screw 6 can be applied or removed easily with a screwdriver since the screw position in the threaded hole 1c or the head portion of the set screw 6 in the applied position can be reached from beneath.
  • the top and bottom covers are attached or detached to or from the camera body, normally the top cover 1 is attached on the camera body prior to the bottom cover 7, or the top cover 1 is detached from the camera body 9 after bottom cover 7. It follows that the lower cover 7 or the riser wall portion 7a is not attached to the camera body 9 when the set screw is normally loosened or tightened and the bottom wall portion of the rearward bulge 1a is therefore easily accessible for attachment or removal of the set screw 6.
  • the length or degree of rearward bulging of the respective bulges 1a and 8a of the top cover 1 and the rear lid 8 is greater than the diameter of the head of the set screw 6.
  • the set screw 6 can be mounted by forming the light shielding grooves 9b and 9c and the recess 9d in receded positions on the camera body 9.
  • the top cover may be provided with a bulged portion on the left-hand side of the camera if desired.
  • Another set screw is simply provided on the bulged portion to fix the top cover in position in a similar manner.
  • this top cover mounting construction is applicable to other covers to be attached to a camera body.
  • the set screw in the embodiment of the invention shown is located on the inner side of the bulged portion, which is provided on the top cover to provide a thumb grip.
  • the set screw is completely concealed in or behind the rearward bulge 8a of the rear lid 8, the light shielding wall 8b and the pendent wall 1b of the top cover 1, and it thus cannot be seen from outside the camera although it can be screwed on or off very easily.
  • the top cover mounting construction of the invention permits placement of the set screw for the top cover in a concealed position to improve the appearance of the camera without necessitating a cover for the screw head itself. Additionally, attachment and detachment of the top cover is made easy, and the top cover is held securely in position.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Camera Bodies And Camera Details Or Accessories (AREA)
US07/350,907 1988-05-13 1989-05-12 Top cover mounting construction for cameras Expired - Lifetime US4949113A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1988062253U JPH0740983Y2 (ja) 1988-05-13 1988-05-13 カメラの上カバー取付構造
JP63-62253[U] 1988-05-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4949113A true US4949113A (en) 1990-08-14

Family

ID=13194794

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/350,907 Expired - Lifetime US4949113A (en) 1988-05-13 1989-05-12 Top cover mounting construction for cameras

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US4949113A (th)
JP (1) JPH0740983Y2 (th)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2467320A (en) * 1946-05-31 1949-04-12 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus for processing film material
US3979762A (en) * 1975-03-03 1976-09-07 Polaroid Corporation Modular photographic system
JPS5518812A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-02-09 Hitachi Ltd Vertical-type electric motor
JPS5579324A (en) * 1978-12-08 1980-06-14 Ube Ind Ltd Preparation of biphenyl
JPS55149727A (en) * 1979-05-11 1980-11-21 Furukawa Alum Co Ltd Press forming method for sheet of aluminum or aluminum-alloy
JPS5754133A (ja) * 1980-08-08 1982-03-31 Givaudan & Cie Sa Shinkihokobutsushitsu
US4390263A (en) * 1980-05-10 1983-06-28 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Mount member for optical apparatus
JPS58128427A (ja) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-01 Nissan Motor Co Ltd 内燃機関の空燃比制御装置
JPS6139397A (ja) * 1984-07-30 1986-02-25 松下電器産業株式会社 Ｅｌパネル

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5813520U (ja) * 1981-07-17 1983-01-27 キヤノン株式会社 カメラ用背蓋
JPS6114030U (ja) * 1984-06-27 1986-01-27 三郎 湯原 棺箱装置
JPS61201036U (th) * 1985-06-04 1986-12-16

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2467320A (en) * 1946-05-31 1949-04-12 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus for processing film material
US3979762A (en) * 1975-03-03 1976-09-07 Polaroid Corporation Modular photographic system
JPS5518812A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-02-09 Hitachi Ltd Vertical-type electric motor
JPS5579324A (en) * 1978-12-08 1980-06-14 Ube Ind Ltd Preparation of biphenyl
JPS55149727A (en) * 1979-05-11 1980-11-21 Furukawa Alum Co Ltd Press forming method for sheet of aluminum or aluminum-alloy
US4390263A (en) * 1980-05-10 1983-06-28 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Mount member for optical apparatus
JPS5754133A (ja) * 1980-08-08 1982-03-31 Givaudan & Cie Sa Shinkihokobutsushitsu
JPS58128427A (ja) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-01 Nissan Motor Co Ltd 内燃機関の空燃比制御装置
JPS6139397A (ja) * 1984-07-30 1986-02-25 松下電器産業株式会社 Ｅｌパネル

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Camera Sha Publication Camera Annual 88 , Published Dec. 15, 1987, pp. 8 10. *
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Camera-Sha Publication "Camera Annual'88", Published Dec. 15, 1987, pp. 8-10.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0740983Y2 (ja) 1995-09-20
JPH01171436U (th) 1989-12-05

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